New Taipei village chief candidate bailed in douhua vote-buying probe

New Taipei, Sept. 15 (CNA) A village chief candidate in New Taipei was released on NT$100,000 (US$3,145) and barred from leaving the country as prosecutors probe whether he attempted to illegally influence voters by giving out free haircuts and douhua.

The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office said in a statement Tuesday that the candidate in the city's Taishan District, surnamed Chen (陳), had held an event offering free haircuts in honor of Taiwan's Aug. 8 Father's Day.

Chen also allegedly treated some local residents to free bowls of douhua, with an estimated value of around NT$50, prosecutors said, adding that these actions were likely intended to influence recipients' voting behavior.

On Monday, prosecutor Fang Yu-ting (方鈺婷) and the New Taipei Police Department's Criminal Investigation Corps carried out a search of Chen's home, and summoned Chen and 10 other individuals for questioning.

Following questioning, prosecutors determined that Chen had likely violated provisions against vote buying in the Public Officials Election and Recall Act, and agreed to release him on NT$100,000 bail and bar him from leaving the country, the statement said.

In Taiwan, candidates for elected office frequently distribute low-value promotional gifts, such as pocket tissues and water bottles, worth less than NT$30 to voters.

According to the legal information website Legispedia (法律百科), however, the NT$30 figure does not appear in Taiwan's election laws, though it is among the standards used by prosecutors in deciding whether to pursue a case.

Taiwan's local elections, in which voters will select mayors and county chiefs, city and county councilors, township mayors and councilors, and village chiefs, are scheduled for Nov. 28.